Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Minister assures rice stocks safe amid fortified rice recall

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Aria Ananda, Katriana

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Budi Santoso has assured that rice stocks at retailers remain sufficient amid the ongoing recall of products from 25 fortified rice brands that, based on government testing, failed to meet nutritional content standards.

"No problem, (the stocks are) safe," the minister said when met after a working meeting with Commission VI of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) here on Thursday.

Santoso gave the assurance regarding rice availability at retail outlets following the government’s handling of the fortified rice products.

He explained that supplies were being increased, including through an additional one million tons of rice under the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program.

"Bulog has said it will supply one million tons of our SPHP rice. This was conveyed at a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs. So, I think there is no problem," he said.

The Trade Minister said the government would maintain the distribution of the rice by continuing to coordinate with the National Food Agency (Bapanas) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

"Yes, one of them is from Bulog. We will ensure its distribution. We will continue coordinating with Bapanas and the Ministry of Agriculture," he said.

Santoso said the SPHP rice would be distributed through modern retail outlets and traditional markets.

The assurance regarding rice stocks came a day after Bapanas stated that the 25 fortified rice brands suspected of failing to meet the required standards had stopped production and that their products were in the process of being recalled from circulation.

As of the first week of September, 12 brands had withdrawn their stocks, while the remaining brands were still undergoing the recall process.

Bapanas also said that 11 business operators holding 25 distribution permits for the fortified rice brands had received warning letters from the Regional Food Safety Competent Authority (OKKPD), in coordination with Bapanas.

Minister of Agriculture and Head of Bapanas Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Wednesday (9/16) that tests on 27 rice brands sold with fortified rice claims showed that 25 brands failed to meet the nutritional content standards stated on their packaging labels.

The government conducted sample testing through four laboratories. The distribution permits for the 25 brands that failed to meet the requirements will be revoked, and their products will be recalled from circulation in accordance with regulations.

Authorities are still investigating suspected criminal elements in the case.

The Ministry of Agriculture has coordinated with the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) and the National Police Food Task Force.

Meanwhile, the National Police said legal proceedings would be initiated if further investigation and scientific testing established that a criminal offense had occurred.

Regarding the process, Santoso said the Ministry of Trade respected the ongoing legal proceedings. "We respect the ongoing legal process," he said.

In the meantime, the additional allocation of one million tons of SPHP rice previously referred to by the minister was approved by the government at a coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs on September 7, 2026.

The additional allocation is intended to strengthen supplies of medium-quality rice to the market and maintain price stability.

Bapanas reported on Wednesday (September 16) that stocks of the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stored at state-owned food logistics company Perum Bulog stood at around 4.6 million tons.

Meanwhile, the realization of SPHP rice distribution from March through mid-September 2026 reached approximately 794,000 tons.

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